Hillary Clinton Launches HBCU Outreach Initiative

Tim Kaine is scheduled to appear at a voter registration rally on Florida A&M's campus this Friday.

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton announced an outreach plan to engage young Black voters through a newly visioned HBCU initiative. The first leg of the tour kicks off with a voter registration event at Florida A&M University. Running mate Tim Kaine plans to make an appearance on Friday while several of Clinton’s surrogates will visit HBCU’s reaching the final days of the election.

A spokesperson for Clinton’s campaign told Buzzfeed the outreach strategy “will encourage HBCU students to organize their student bodies, register, re-register, and mobilize their peers for the election.”

The Clinton surrogate visits are part of a strategy to encourage voter registration drives on college campuses. Kaine’s home state of Virginia boasts a total of five HBCUs, a key point that he lauds at appearances where Black voters are the majority of attendees.

Clinton’s objective through her educational plan aimed at HBCUs sets aside an estimated budget of $25 billion to help low-and-middle-income students. The effort also aims to make two-year college programs free.

Last year, Clinton visited Clark Atlanta University and other HBCUs with appearances from singer Usher and basketball player Grant Hill, and politicians like Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Rep. John Lewis. Actress Angela Bassett also made appearance’s at campuses in South Carolina on Clinton’s behalf during the primary months.

On Thursday, the campaign tapped former CNN contributor and South Carolina Lt. Governor candidate Bakari Sellers to visit Savannah State to speak to students.

Other events slated to kick off on Friday include an election conference call hosted by North Carolina Rep. and Congressional Black Caucus Chair G.K. Butterfield and an appearance by Marcia Fudge at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania over the weekend.